A US woman who shot and killed her husband and two adult children before taking her own life is thought to have committed the shocking crime as a result of being ostracised from the religion she was raised in.

A federal judge sentenced a former Arkansas judge Wednesday to five years in prison — a stiffer punishment than prosecutors recommended — after he admitted giving young male defendants lighter sentences in return for personal benefits that included sexual favours.

Every time I tell a mate I’m doing a story on cryptocurrency, they invariably ask me the same two questions: should they invest their own hard-earned money, and which cryptocurrency will get them a Lamborghini/yacht/island quickest?

In a 60 Minutes online exclusive, reporter Liz Hayes quizzed Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on his relationship with the unpredictable Twitter aficionado and US president Donald Trump ahead of their meeting at the White House Friday.

Eight rescued, three missing after US Navy aircraft crash

The US Navy said eight of the crew and passengers on a plane that crashed while en route to the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier in the Pacific have been found and are in a "good condition", but three are still missing.

The Navy tweeted that the eight are on board the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier.

Their C-2 "Greyhound" transport plane crashed while on its way to the carrier yesterday in the Philippine Sea, where the US and Japanese navies are holding exercises.

The names of the crew and passengers have not yet been released.

The cause of the crash was not immediately clear, the Navy said.

The 7th Fleet has had two fatal accidents in Asian waters this year, leaving 17 sailors dead and prompting the removal of eight top Navy officers from their posts, including the 7th Fleet commander.

The USS John S. McCain and an oil tanker collided near Singapore in August, leaving 10 US sailors dead.